Winter /Spring 2008

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World wide attention has again focussed onMyanmar for all the wrong reasons.

The cyclone devastation has left the countrytorn apart socially, economically, and politically.

Exact figures of lives lost will never be reallyknown, but there is no doubt that close to200,000 people have died. Many more areinjured and food and water-borne diseases arecausing further deaths.

GraceWorks is pleased to announce that noneof our workers and children have died as aresult of the cyclone. Many of the buildings weredamaged but most have now been repaired. Ourfarm project at Poogee Village has beendestroyed. However, the replanting of trees andvegetable plantations are well under way.

GW has been networking with Orphans Hope(USA) in the rebuilding and food programs forall our orphanages.

However, the tragic stories of survival are nowbeginning to emerge. Thousands of people areconverging on Yangon - including many moreorphans who have lost their families. Theycome to the city in the hope of gaining foodand shelter. One group of over 500 children arebeing cared for by one of our co-workers. Theyhave arrived with no food, no shelter and littleclothing. GW will be working with this team toprovide support for these children.

One man arrived requesting an empty rice bag.When asked why he wanted an empty bag he

said it was for his wife who had no clothes andwas hiding under a tree.

Of a more sinister and evil development is thesecuring of children for sexual exploitation.Paedophilia is now a major problem. WorldVision have recently launched a program inYangon called “Hidden Lives, Hidden Voices” in an attempt to rescue children at risk.

What is GW doing?Our primary task has been to:

• secure the buildings

• maintain the food supply

• provide support for our existing orphanages - all of whom have taken more children

One of our longer term goals is to providefunding and support for programs such as“Hidden Lives, Hidden Voices”.

Another request we have received is to assist inthe reclaiming of deceased children and familiesby providing coffins and funding for funeralservices. Many have died and been washedaway and families have requested memorialservices. As the water has receded, more andmore bodies are being exposed.

While the news services around the world havenow turned their attention to other crisis the realenormity of this tragedy is only beginning tounfold. A GW team will visit Myanmar in July forfurther assessment of our role in providingsupport and resources in the most effected areas.

The World’s eyes on Myanmar

"GraceWorks Myanmar is a Christian based organisation and functions according to Christian principles and ethics " .

GraciousLives

From theChairman’sDesk

I am often asked how difficult is it to work in such achallenging place as Myanmar.

Its a good question but not an easy one to answer. There isnothing that can prepare a person for the sheer tragedy ofhaving a baby die in your arms or turning people away asthey plead for food for their children.

That such circumstances could evolve in this modern agewith such incredible resources and technology at our fingertips is a reflection on all of humanity. How can a young girlof 10 years of age be forced to sell herself to gain food forher younger siblings? This is the reality of life in Myanmar.It does not matter whether we have children of our own ornot - we can all be a part of the answer. We are all a part ofthe greater humanity of mankind.

GW desperately needs your involvement. Volunteers inmany areas are working tirelessly to raise funds andincrease the public profile of GW.

There are to many people to thank for your recentgenerosity. Over the past month we have raised over$30000 with the promise of more to come.

It is important for all GW supporters to realise that our aidmoney does reach the appropriate people in Myanmar. We do not pay any money to the Military. People should notwithhold giving for fear of the money being misused. GW staff personally oversee the allocation of funding and thecompletion of all our projects.

Unfortunately, the world media have created a level ofuncertainty by the constant focus on the military regimeand their lack of response to the relief efforts. Our supportis getting through and we have no reason to believe thatthis access will not continue. We also have no problems ingetting visa approvals. It is also important to be aware thatGW has never had any Military intervention in any of ourprojects and on occasions the Military have assisted us incertain areas.

While there are reports of aid being blocked and divertedthis has not been the case for GW and our networkingfriends, Orphans Hope and Asia Heartbeat. My request is“please do not punish the people of Myanmar for thedeeds of a Government they had no say in electing”.

The effects of the cyclone will change the way we operatein Myanmar for many years to come. The challenges are daunting.

But we can and are making a difference. For this influence tocontinue and grow, we must increase our supporter base.Please tell a friend about GraceWorks – don’t keep it a secret.

Peter Simmons(Chairman GraceWorks Myanmar)

Our mission is to providehumanitarian aid through health and education programs, to improve the quality of life and well-being of the people of Myanmar

2008 Annual GraceWorks Golf DayOnly mad dogs and Englishmen go out to play in the midday sun so the sayinggoes. Except to play in the annual GW golf day. In very hot and trying conditionsour golfers again excelled in a day which produced some outstanding golf.

We welcomed Paulo Montoya who came with an awesome reputation and evenmore challenging handicap of zero. Paulo was the 2005 Central American AmateurChampion. He is captain of St Marys Golf Club in Sydney. He is also captain of theNSW University Team. He will be representing Costa Rica in the World AmateurTeam Championships in Adelaide in October this year.

However our congratulations go to the team from Stockdale Printstaff - skillfullyled by Rob Fellows who won the tournament. Rob’s brilliant technical expertiseshone through and enabled his team to win the tournament.

Our thanks to the many corporate supporters who enabled us to raise a total of $8366.00.

Thank you also for the tremendous support from the staff at Ringwood Golf Club.

Please make a note in your dairies: Next yearsevent will be on Monday2nd March at 12.00pm at Ringwood Golf Club.

Paulo Montoya

The winning team

Having an Influence...bringing hope to MyanmarGW member Jenny Webb writes:This is Lang Sian Sum. He is 7 years old. I first met him on a visit to Elim Children’sHome in August 2007. His mother diedwhen he was only 7 months old. Hisfather had managed to care for him andhis four older sisters until he too died,probably of tuberculosis, earlier last year.

Sian Sum suffers from a congenital hipdislocation. Here, the condition wouldhave been treated in infancy and hemight have lived a normal life. Instead, a lack of weight-bearing exercisehas left him severely disabled. His physical development has sufferedand his mobility is restricted. Graceworks was asked to provide himwith a wheelchair. With little knowledge of his condition, instinctsuggested that immobilising him further was not the answer.

Only the day before, I been taken to visit Eden School for children withdisabilities. Here a remarkable woman, Lillian Gyi, educates and treatschildren with physical and intellectual disabilities. She also runs an

outreach program and has recently opened a training centre for theolder children. She is also planning a sheltered workshop andresidential facility for these students.

When I visited Elim again in April, Sian Sum showed me his new calliperwhich had allowed him some mobility. We were anxious to have himassessed by one of Lillian’s physiotherapists in order to support himwith exercises to strengthen his withered leg and the rest of his tinybody and to improve his quality of life in the long-term.

Miraculously, with only a few hours before the beginning of WaterFestival (when everything shuts down in Myanmar for five days), wewere able to transport him to Eden. He was assessed and given anexercises program and a Graceworks-funded pedalling frame. Lillianwill now review his condition every six months.

I look forward to hearing of his progress and to knowing that, one day,he has achieved his dream of playing football.

Jenny Webb is a teacher from Seymour, Victoria. Jenny hasintroduced teaching programs to teach teachers as well asoverseeing our preschool in Yangon. She has been to Myanmar 4 times.

So BlessedWhat a privilege it was to be accepted into the homes and lives of thesebeautiful orphaned children and the dedicated people who care for them.

In each orphanage our team was introduced to the children whoembraced us with smiling faces and singing to welcome us. We visitedsix orphanages. In four we built swings, monkey bars, and see-saws.The delight on the children’s faces when they had their first swing orsee-saw was something to behold.

During the building process, the older boys worked side by side withus, learning new skills. These boys are very intelligent and very keen tolearn. It didn’t matter what the task entailed - whether it was diggingholes in the hard ground, or hammering nails, or drilling holes, theywere very eager to do anything to learn more.

We were thrilled to be invited to stay the night at Full Moon Orphanage.After a hard days work, we enjoyed a wonderful evening playing guitar andsinging with some of the older boys. We slept and ate as they did, whichgave us a real insight into the day to day struggle these people have.

My time in Myanmar turned out to be so much more than just buildingplayground equipment and teaching these young boys new skills. Thepersonalities and out going nature of all the children, who just loved totake your hand and lead you into their world, had a big impact on mepersonally. My heart and prayers go out to the children and theirhouse parents as I go back to such a different world.

Gary True is a builder and painter from Yarrawonga, Victoria. Thiswas his first trip to Myanmar.

Embassy visits farming projectAustralian embassy official Simon Harrison recently visited GardenHome farming project as a guest of GW chairman Peter Simmons.

Garden Home is a networking project between GW and Orphans Hope USA.

Currently we have submission for an irrigation and pumping station at Garden Home to allow this farming project to extend its fruit andvegetable plantations.

This farm also provides work for the local village as well as training infarming and animal husbandry for the older children at the orphanage.

GW has received 2 funding allocations from the Australian Embassythrough its DAP program (direct aid project).

The first allocation was to establishour Kids Land preschool andeducation centre and the secondto purchase bunk beds and desksfor Elim Children’s Home.

GW thanks the Embassy staffparticularly Ambassador BobDavis (who has recentlycompleted his tenure in Yangon)and Simon for theirtremendous support andencouragement.

Gary True (left) and Pastor Khai, from Elim Children’s Home

Peter Simmons (left) & Simon Harrison (right)

Jenny with Lang Sian Sum

Please return to:

GraceWorks MyanmarPO Box 245

Blackburn VIC 3130Ph: (03) 9872 5242Fax: (03) 9873 5031

or

Donation SlipI would like to make a donation today: ! $25 ! $50 ! $100 ! $250 ! Other $

You can donate direct debit to GraceWorks Account: BSB 083 132 Account No: 57–084–3050Bank: National Australia Bank – Blackburn, Victoria

! I have enclosed a cheque / money order or please debit my: ! Mastercard ! Visa

Card no.: !!!! !!!! !!!! !!!!Cardholder’s signature: Expiry date: /

Title: First Name: Surname:

Address:

Postcode:

Email: Telephone:

Please send me more information about:! Becoming a volunteer ! Leaving a bequest in my w ill to GraceWorks

Don’t forget to visit the GraceWorks website at www.graceworksmyanmar.org.au Also, let us know if you have heard the GraceWorks radio promotion on 89.9 Light FM

Banking Details Please note if you are sending acheque to GW it must be written asfollows: “GraceWorks Myanmar Inc.”The bank will reject the cheque if it isnot written correctly.

If you are making direct credits intothe GW account please send anaccompanying email stating yourname and address so we can sendyou a receipt.

GW email address:info@graceworksmyanmar.org.au

Web PageGW’s has recently commissionedRedroar web page consultants to build a new web page which willexpand our ability to keep youupdated on a more regular basis.

The new site should be online bySeptember 1st 2008

Travel NewsDue to the recent events in Myanmartravel has been restricted. There willbe no further team trips in 2008.Dates have not been set for 2009.

When the dates are confirmed theywill appear in our newsletter and onthe web page. For further informationon team trips and to download a “I would like to take a trip” formplease visit:www.graceworksmyanmar.org.au/pdf/trip.pdf

AdministrationCostsWe are frequently asked how much money is allocated toadministration. We have a constitutionalrequirement that no more than 15%(15 cents in every dollar) goes toadministration.

This is a very small amount in terms of our ability the produce thisnewsletter, maintain a web page andproduce promotional material. All ourprinting costs are provided free andmost of the graphic art preparation is donated.

The constitution also allows for oneairfare to Myanmar per year to beallocated to the Chairman or adesignated board member.

Tax DeductabiltyAre GW donations tax deductable?The answer is N O.

However, for companies to claim adeduction they can advertise in ourgolf tournament or on ourforthcoming new web page as acorporate sponsor.

We are currently working on asubmission to the Tax Office thatpotentially will enable us to claimcertain projects as tax deductable. The guidelines are very narrow and it is extremely difficult to gain taxdeductability.

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